Owl Mask Item Number: 25.0/215 from the The Burke: University of Washington
Exhibit Label
Sidney Gerber purchased this owl mask from Willie Seaweed shortly after it had been photographed, worn by Joe Seaweed, in the film Dances of the Kwakiutl (Orbit Films 1951). As seen on the museum wall the round bulging eyes set in flaring blue-green sockets and the fierce hooked beak dramatically express the character of the nocturnal bird of prey. When it is worn in the dance, the bird gains life. The mask is bold in its conception and execution. Made perhaps fifty years ago by George Walkus of Smith Inlet, it represents the artist's style at its most expressive. The painting in black, red, green, and white follows the carved features and elaborates the cheeks in typical Kwakiutl fashion. (Holm, Crooked Beak of Heaven, 1972)
Automatically Generated From Material
The paint is black, red, green, and white.
Item History
- Made by George Walkus
- Received from Mrs. Anne Gerber
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw: Gwa'sala
- Creator
- George Walkus
- Received from
- Mrs. Anne Gerber
Where
- Holding Institution
- The Burke: University of Washington
Other
- Credit
- Sidney Gerber Collection, Gift of Anne Gerber
- Motif
- Owl
- Collection
- Burke Museum Ethnology Collection